Courtois seals new Blues deal September 11, 2014 CHELSEA stopper Thibaut Courtois has enhanced his grip on the No1 jersey at Stamford Bridge by signing a new five-year contract. The 22-year-old ousted Petr Cech and has started the season as Jose Mourinho’s first choice keeper after spending three seasons on loan in Spain with Atletico Madrid.
Pistorius to learn fate as murder charge quashed September 11, 2014 PARALYMPIC champion Oscar Pistorius will discover today whether he is guilty of manslaughter after Judge Thokozile Masipa yesterday cleared the South African of murder. Judge Masipa declared prosecutors had failed to prove that Pistorius had deliberately intended to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day last year but concluded the 27-year-old had acted in [...]
Welbeck ready to prove Van Gaal was wrong September 11, 2014 STRIKER Danny Welbeck insists he is straining at the leash to occupy the centre ground and escape the shackles of an unselfish past when Arsenal host reigning Premier League champions Manchester City at the Emirates tomorrow. The 23-year-old has endured consistent flack for an indifferent goalscoring record during his time at former club Manchester United [...]
Rodgers fumes over Sturridge injury setback September 11, 2014 DISGRUNTLED Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is adamant a clearer dialogue between club and country would have prevented the injury picked up by striker Daniel Sturridge while on national duty. Reds forward Sturridge sustained a thigh injury during England training last Friday after playing 88 minutes of the Three Lions’ dismal friendly with Norway at Wembley [...]
Mental strength vital for Sarries, claims Hodgson September 11, 2014 GLORY-HUNTING fly-half Charlie Hodgson believes mental fortitude can fuel his side’s silverware assault this season as Saracens prepare to lock horns with Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop tonight. The 33-year-old is the Premiership’s highest-ever points scorer and he got the nod over England international Owen Farrell at last week’s London Double header as Saracens secured [...]
Spurs to leave the Lane as new stadium plans hit more snags September 10, 2014 A LEGAL wrangle is set to see Tottenham Hotspur rendered homeless after the club was yesterday forced to tear up plans over the proposed timing of a move to its new stadium. The news comes as a bitter blow to the north London side which had hoped to be fully installed in a fresh 56,250-capacity [...]
End of a long and successful era at Ferrari as chief quits after miserable on-track season September 10, 2014 FERRARI’S turbulent season shows no sign of ceasing after the long-serving chairman of their Formula One team, Luca di Montezemolo, announced he will stand down as the head of the Maranello-based outfit next month following a distinctly miserable season. The F1 giants are enduring their least competitive season for two decades, epitomised by the Italian [...]
Skipper Rooney at the forefront of building England team unity September 10, 2014 INNOVATING England skipper Wayne Rooney has introduced player-only meetings to the Three Lions camp in a bid to drastically improve flagging squad cohesion. The Manchester United forward has a perfect record since being handed the captain’s armband by manager Roy Hodgson following the post-World Cup international retirement of previous incumbent Steven Gerrard and other elder [...]
Maestro Ramsey keen to douse injury concerns September 10, 2014 INFLUENTIAL Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has moved to deflate concerns the ankle injury he sustained on international duty will sideline him from the Gunners’ pivotal Premier League clash with Manchester City on Saturday. The 23-year-old picked up a knock on the controversial artificial pitch at the Estadio Nacional as Wales began their Euro 2016 qualifying [...]
Sevens loophole closure to dent Armitage switch September 9, 2014 ENGLAND outcast Steffon Armitage has been warned to forget about switching his allegiance to France ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. The Toulon No8 was crowned European player of the season last term but has not donned an England shirt since 2010 due to the Rugby Football Union’s stance of not selecting foreign based [...]
